INDIANAPOLIS – With her two star players in early foul trouble, Marquette Catholic coach Katie Collignon made a bold move by keeping them on the bench to start the second half of the Class A girls basketball state championship game Saturday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

The top-ranked Blazers knew someone else would have to step up against No. 2 Vincennes Rivet, with the 6-1 Nolan twins, Emma (20.9 points per game) and Sophia (18.5 ppg), sitting with three fouls each.

Fortunately, for Marquette, it was junior reserve Claire Salyer. The 5-7 guard started the second half and scored eight points in the third to help the Blazers stave off a Patriots run and hold on for a 38-31 win for the program’s first state championship. It marked the Class A state finals record for the fewest points allowed.

“Everyone has had to do their role to the best of their ability for us to be successful this year,” Collignon said. “I thought we really took that to heart, especially in the postseason. When you have 12 girls who believe in that, you have a performance like today where Claire knew it was her moment.”

Rivet (26-3) controlled the pace early, jumping to an 11-6 first-quarter lead. The Patriots utilized their press and Marquette (27-2) didn’t handle it well, committing early turnovers. Despite shooting only 18 percent from the floor in the first, Vincennes was able to attack the basket off the forced turnovers, and got to the foul line. Grace Waggoner hit 4-of-5 from the stripe to lead the Patriots with seven first-quarter points.

Rivet went away from the press to start the second quarter, but the team’s poor shooting continued. Despite the Nolan twins’ foul issues, the Blazers outscored Rivet 11-2 in the second to lead 17-13 at the break.

Salyer got a steal and a layup to start the third and added a pair of 3-pointers, scoring eight of Marquette’s 10 points in the period. Vincennes Rivet made a run during the third, but Salyer’s efforts helped Marquette preserve a 27-24 lead heading into the fourth.

“It felt really good, for sure,” said Salyer, who averaged 2.7 points this year. “It gave the team and the crowd more of a boost and helped us play better going forward.”

Still, Rivet tied the game at 31 with 2:16 left on a pair of free throws by Waggoner, who finished with a game-high 14 points. Sophia Nolan answered with a basket inside to give Marquette a 33-31 lead with 2:04 left. The Patriots missed on their next possession and were forced to begin fouling. Emmery Joseph sank a pair of free throws with 40 seconds left to stretch the Blazers’ lead to four. Emma Nolan added a breakaway layup late and Salyer closed the scoring with a free throw.

The Patriots shot just 8-of-46 (17.4 percent) for the game. Rivet did the bulk of its damage from the foul line, hitting 12-of-17. Sophomore Tia Tolbert added 11 points.

“This team has never given up all year long,” said Rivet coach Rick Marshall. “I knew that they’d make a run and get back in it. They made it close and gave it their shot. Our shot just wasn’t good enough.”

The Vincennes players were already talking about next year. The Patriots have just one senior – point guard Megan Niehaus, who won the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award.

“It will be hard without Megan next year, but I have every bit of confidence we’ll be here and wearing blue (ribbons) next time,” Waggoner said. “Everyone thought it would be a rebuilding year this year. No one thought we’d get to the state final after losing our head coach and losing seven seniors. We set our goals high. I’m excited about next year.”